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Historic May Day being observed without programmes

| Updated: May 01, 2020 18:18:04


Workers toiling at the Motijheel site of the Dhaka Metro Rail project in the city on Thursday ahead of the May Day today — FE photo by Shafiqul Alam Workers toiling at the Motijheel site of the Dhaka Metro Rail project in the city on Thursday ahead of the May Day today — FE photo by Shafiqul Alam

The historic May Day is being observed today (Friday) in the country without outdoor programmes amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion of the historic May Day.

May Day, also known as the International Workers' Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago, USA at the height of a prolonged fight for an eight-hour workday.

The day is a public holiday, reports a news agency.

Newspapers publish supplements while radio and television channels air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

On May 1, 1886, 10 workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in the US city of Chicago near Hay Market demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift.

On the height of agitation, the authorities had to accept the workers' demand and the eight-hour day has been introduced universally.

On July 14, 1889, an international workers' rally in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers' Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers' sacrifice and achievement and since 1890, the day has been being observed globally as the International Workers' Solidarity Day.

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